title: Surgical interventions for vitiligo: an evidence-based review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitiligo is a disfiguring disease, characterized frequently by the presence of de-pigmented macules and/or patches. Traditional therapies are essentially medical and are most preferred by dermatologists. Surgical therapies, however, are amongst the most effective interventions for vitiligo but are limited by their invasive nature, as well as the training and expertise needed to perform specific procedures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the evidence for the effectiveness, safety and applicability of the various surgical methods in the treatment of vitiligo.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this systematic review of vitiligo surgical therapies, our searches included: PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed research studies reporting on split thickness skin grafts (STSG), punch/mini-graft, blister roof grafting, cultured and non-cultured cellular transplantation (MKTP). While all methods vary in their repigmentation outcomes, STSG is found to have the highest repigmentation success rate. Overall, post-operative complications included milia, scarring, cobblestone appearance or hyperpigmentation of treated areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review highlights the need for more randomized controlled trials in this field, underpinned by a more standardized objective approach to the assessment of repigmentation following surgical interventions.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Vitiligo, Psoriasis, PO Box 300320, Riyadh, 11372, Saudi Arabia; Wimpole Aesthetic Centre, 48 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 8SF, U.K.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Mulekar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Isedeh
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000601:surgery*